Action Alert - Critical Alert for State Arts Funding

The State Legislative Budget Conference Committee will meet on Monday, June 2, and among the issues it will act upon is the increase in state arts funding that was recommended by the Assembly earlier this month.

This is a critical moment for what we believe is our best chance in over a decade to restore funding for the arts in our state!

PLEASE ACT TODAY BY USING THE TEMPLATE BELOW TO COMMUNICATE YOUR ORGANIZATION'S OR YOUR PERSONAL SUPPORT FOR INCREASED ARTS FUNDING TO THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS! (Feel free to personalize it.)THE BUDGET CONFERENCE COMMITTEE NEEDS TO RECEIVE OUR LETTERS NO LATER THAN MONDAY!

[NAME OF YOUR ORGANIZATION] respectfully urges the Budget Conference Committee to adopt an appropriation of $10 million for the California Arts Council - the figure recently passed by the Assembly

[1-2 LINES ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION].

[NAME OF YOUR ORGANIZATION] understands that California has competing budget priorities and there is no shortage of worthy causes. However, we urge you to consider the following:

State Investment Benefits Disadvantaged Communities - Californian's are generous in their support of the arts, but the great majority of that funding is directed to larger arts organizations in the major cultural centers. Very little of this funding makes its way to disadvantaged urban and rural communities. The Arts Council invests in these communities and enriches the lives of Californians with limited exposure to the arts.

California Ranks Near the Bottom for Arts Investment - The California Arts Council has served as California's arm for investing in the arts since 1975. After averaging approximately $9 million in General Fund investment over its 40 year history, it reached a high of $30 million in 2000-2001. But in 2003, that investment was cut to just $1 million, where it has remained for a decade, leaving California last among all the states in per capita investment in the arts -- allocating just three cents per person from the General Fund.

The Arts Produce Economic Activity and Jobs - The arts are a major player in our state's economy, generating billions in economic activity and fundamentally impacting California's core creative industries. California's cultural enterprises provide more than 500,000 jobs for Californians or 7.6% of total employment, and California's non-profit arts alone contribute more than $9 billion to the state's economy. Additional funding to the Arts Council will leverage the arts as a proven catalyst for spurring local economies and for preparing California's workforce to prosper in the global creative economy.

Can we afford not to make this investment? Thank you for your commitment to a better California.

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Studio Art Quilt Associates

SAQA is a non-profit international organization whose mission is to promote the art quilt through education, exhibitions, professional development and documentation. Founded in 1989 by an initial group of 50 artists, SAQA now boasts of over 2900 members: artists, teachers, collectors, gallery owners, museum curators and corporate sponsors.